Imagine how nice it would be to fly around in a magic carpet and explore the map – just like Aladdin’s flying magic carpet. Cool right? Fortunately, we can replicate something like that in Minecraft, too, and that is what we will talk about today – how to make a flying machine in Minecraft?
I know that most gamers want to dive into creating things directly without spending time creating them in the sandbox. And that is exactly why we are going to build a simple flying machine in Minecraft together. More so, we are going to build it using inexpensive materials.
So, in this guide, we are going to talk about how to make a Minecraft flying machine. Plus, we will also cover how to build a cheap flying machine in Minecraft. Let’s get on with it.
What Items Do You Need to Create a Flying Machine in Minecraft?
The flying machine we’re going to create today may be cheap, but it is definitely worth making. And to sum it up, it only requires 7 blocks of the following materials to make a Minecraft flying machine. Here is what you will need:
- Observer (2 blocks)
- Slime Blocks (at least 4 blocks)
- Honey Blocks (at least 4 blocks)
- Sticky Pistons (2 pieces)
- Obsidian (2 Blocks)
- Redstone Dust (For connecting the lever with the piston)
- Lever (For starting the flying machine)
- Trap Door (2 pieces)
A flying base is great, but it has some caveats as well. Your machine will travel in a straight line as soon as you release it, but it will come to a stop once it hits an obstacle.
So, for your own smooth experience, it is better to create your Minecraft flying base at a more elevated place so that you do not come in contact with the ground elements – even mountains.
You may also like: How to Make a Secret Door in Minecraft?
How to Make a Flying Machine in Minecraft? Minimalistic Way!
Building a flying machine takes a lot of engineering if you want to make it complicated. But, if you boil it down to the specifics, you will see that the tricky part is to create the propelling engine. You already have the list of items. It should give you an idea of how much of each element you need to gather to create a more complex flying machine – maybe a flying ship or something like that.
Step 1: Gain Elevation
Stack a few grass blocks vertically on top of each other to get some elevation off the ground. Since we are just testing it out, a few blocks will do just fine. But, it’s better to keep a good elevation to test your base over a long distance so that it does not run into any obstructions like – trees and mountains.
Step 2: Placing the Observer
The observer notices any change to the block adjacent to it, giving out a red signal. In this case, we are going to place the observer facing the grass blocks so as to block the view of the observer and block it from sending the red signal.
As you can see, we have placed the observer face hidden using the grass block. And the reason to do this is, we do not want to trigger the red pulse signal whenever we remove the grass block on top.
After you’ve done it, this is what it should look like. And you’ll also see that the alarm has not been activated.
Step 3: Placing the Sticky Piston
The sticky piston is the basis of the whole construction. The sticky pistons will form the propeller that moves the machine from its place.
The way a flying machine works is very simple. It consists of a piston that moves back and forth to push the flying base in a straight direction and keeps on progressing infinitely as long as it does not hit an obstruction. You may as well call it a piston flying machine.
Step 4: Add the Slimy Blocks or the Honey Blocks
The slimy blocks or the honey blocks should form the base of the flying machine. You are to stand on the base when the machine starts moving. Slimy blocks and honey blocks are just fillers except for one significant difference. But these two are interchangeable.
Honey blocks perform a sticky surface on the flying base, which is easier for you to ride. That’s because the player won’t be moving from its position as the machine keeps progressing.
The slimy block, on the other hand, is different and forms a slippery surface. So, as your machine keeps progressing, it will slowly start moving you back and forth along with it. It makes life a little bit difficult for us. But luckily, if you build a slime wall on all sides, you don’t have a chance of falling or slipping out.
Step 5: Repeat the Process
Now, we need 2 sticky pistons for the machine to work. And so, replicate the same process and stack up a series of elements – an observer, followed by a sticky piston and 2 blocks of either honey or slime blocks.
The only difference here is – place your observer adjacent to the honey/slime blocks. The idea is to place each observer in the opposite direction. After you finish, this is what it should look like.
Step 6: Give it a push
Now, what good is a flying base if it does not have a switch? So, to give it a slight nudge or a push, we need to place obsidian in front of one of the observers. If you place obsidian in front of the rear observer and then break it, it will go the other way and vice versa. But first…
Place the obsidian like this, and breaking it should get the machine started. You’ll hear your piston flying machine moving forward like a steam-engine train. Cool right?
But, having to break obsidians every time is costly, and so, there is a cheap but effective alternative which is…
Step 7: Use a Trap Door
If you’ve not removed the grass blocks, this is where you’ll find them useful. The bottom grass block in front of the observer is what you need. Place a trap door on that grass block and flip it.
The force of the trap door should trigger a change in the observer, and it will start moving in the opposite direction.
Step 8: Using a Level Instead of a Switch
If you don’t like the idea of using a trap door, I get it. So, I’ve found another alternative, but it will cost you – 1 lever, Redstone dust, 2 obsidians, and a few grass blocks to elevate the lever so that you can operate it from the flying machine.
I am going to explain this in one demonstration so that you can easily understand what to do. All you need to do here is to raise the level and align it with the flying base. Next, connect the lever with the observer using the Redstone dust. Now, whenever you push/pull the level on the other side, the observer will immediately make the machine move without breaking a thing.
How to Stop a Flying Machine in Minecraft?
If we’re going to explore, there will come a time when you’d need to stop. And the way to stop is to place an unmovable object in front of the machine. Two of the best unmovable objects in Minecraft are – Obsidian and Furnaces.
This process is redundant and requires wasting obsidian every time – something I don’t recommend. And so, you can easily place one obsidian block in front of the honey/slime blocks to create an obstacle for the machine.
Reminder: Carry a water bucket for your safety if you need to get off your flying machine. Let’s face it – death is inevitable if you fall off, but a soft landing on a water block can save your precious time and work.
To Wrap It Up
If you’ve reached the end – congratulations! You’ve learned how to make a flying machine in Minecraft. The practice of using flying machines for exploring new land is debatable, but we’ll get to that later. Right now, you can take a treat because you’ve learned how to create a flying machine in Minecraft using only 7 blocks.
